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Windows 7: How did you guys learn

Idk on the magazines now a day its all digital and they require subscriptions and its a big mess I'll drop by my local library and see if they have any. Been reading some tutorials on the forums lots on info I'm absorbing. Does anyone know if taking a computer science course will perhaps allow me to get into a profession that deals with computer hardware?

Computer Science is mainly programming, and you will have to get into University to study that.

CompTIA A+ will teach the fundamentals of hardware and other concepts such as networking etc. It's not a expensive course.

Personally, I've self taught myself almost everything I know, from reading blogs, learning from others on different forums including this one, and purchasing and reading books. I have a pile of notes about hardware and some networking, and about four computer books. The rest is from reading and learning from experience.

Like before, you won't be able to become an expert in every area related to computers, you will be able to develop a deep knowledge in around two if they're related, for example I mostly read about programming and debugging since the two are related to each other.

In other areas, I might have some basic knowledge or none at all, so if I don't understand something, then I quickly search it up online or ask someone.

Always remember, learning takes time, and you'll always learn something new everyday. I'm constantly learning new things all the time.

Just to add, my first computer I ever used was Windows 98, and my first games console was a Dreamcast.

Another benefit from hanging here is what you thought you knew so much about there's always people that know so much more. At the rate of progress and change it's almost impossible to keep up but with such broad and diverse talent here if you can ask a good question likely you'll get lots of good answers !

I can recall with my first system a 286 rig back in the early 80's I was so lost it was all I could do but turn on and type and print. I much preferred a word processing typewriter and it would save my work and seemed more friendly. Back then I used a software package called Ventura an it was so confusing to me I felt as if the whole world of computing had already passed me by. At some point I just knew that if I didn't force myself to jump in and stay with it then I'd really be screwed and tattooed as they say. I still use today my second printer bought in the mid eighties a HP4 and as I remember it cost me $1,300.00 with a extra memory card. lol

CompTIA A+ will teach the fundamentals of hardware and other concepts such as networking etc. It's not a expensive course.

Like before, you won't be able to become an expert in every area related to computers, you will be able to develop a deep knowledge in around two if they're related, for example I mostly read about programming and debugging since the two are related to each other.

Completely agree with the relation with subject areas. For example if you wish to do networking then look into Windows Server as well since these will go hand in hand.

CompTIA certifications are a great way of understanding the concepts at a beginner level however the configuration and troubleshooting aspects may not be as saturated in those curriculum.

For example if you wish to go for a networking certification then I would strongly advise looking at Cisco certifications (CCENT and CCNA Routing and Switching) as these ones teach you not only the concepts covered in the CompTIA Network+ but also the configuration and practical aspects which in turn help with troubleshooting

Learning for my CCNA has been one of the best experiences in my life and really opened my eyes in terms of how broad IT is as well as how complex the Internet is

A University (College Degree) is more expensive than certifications however they normally cover other relating subjects as well as give you the understanding of how IT impacts a business environment as well as the certain policies regarding to the impact on end users will restrict your ability in a production environment

In the early 70's I had some training on computer theory for air traffic control, never applied to the real world, basically for carrier progression. Jump forward to the early 90's and I bought a state of the art 386/16 with Win 3.0. I remember being so confused when all I saw was C:\ Then I figured out I had to type "WIN" to get the GUI.

Get your hands on some old desktops. Take 'em apart, put 'em back together. Science experiments. In my 30 years with computers, it is all Trial and Error. Yes, read the tutorials & posts here. Remember todays knowledge & technology can be outdated tomorrow. So just keep learning

Get your hands on some old desktops. Take 'em apart, put 'em back together. Science experiments. In my 30 years with computers, it is all Trial and Error. Yes, read the tutorials & posts here. Remember todays knowledge & technology can be outdated tomorrow. So just keep learning

Yes, many science experiemnts.

Ah yes, science experiments. I pulled many a one out of my 'fridge back when I was still married with children.

Well I'm still learning, but when the kids were starting to use computers at school we thought we ought to get one at home so they could practice, I'd never touched one. That was September 1998 so we bought a Windows 98 set up with printer which cost over a £1,000 and had a 2.1GB drive and 32 MB RAM, it was huge.

I started out by reading Newsgroups online and I bought the monthly magazine Windows 98, then started to register in a few Forums. With that first computer I just used to click on everything to see what it did then just gradually find out about how things worked and working out how to fix things when they went wrong, usually because I'd done something I shouldn't have done.

I suppose it just went on from there, as I said I'm still learning you never know everything about computers as they change so quickly and I'm now learning about Windows 8 on my laptop and Smartphone, waiting for the next stage and enjoying every minute of it.

Back in 1984, I was a mfg manager at IBM. They plopped an IBM PC on my desk and told me to make use of it. I had a background as an electronics technician but had never used a PC. I started out by following the tutorial that came with DOS 2.1. Not long after that we got a brand new piece of software called Lotus 123. I learned about spreadsheets from using it and even started writing macros. After becoming fairly proficient with my work PC, I bought one for my own use ($2500 in 1984 with my employee discount). I soon outgrew that PC and wanted something more so I went to a computer show one Saturday and bought stuff like a case, power supply, motherboard, 8088 CPU, hard drive controller card & hard drive ($500 for a 20MB hard drive!), etc... and assembled my own. Over the years since I have always fixed and built my own computers (have never taken one in to be fixed) as well doing the same for friends & family. The internet didn't exist yet but I read books and magazines. I then spent $300 for a 1200 baud modem and discovered BBSes which were the precursor to the internet.

I enjoyed using computers so much that I applied for and was accepted into a Programmer training program at IBM where I was put thru a rigorous training program studying programming in IBM 370 (Mainframe) Assembler language 8hrs/day for 6 months. After I graduated, I switched from management to programming and have been in software development since 1986.

What it boils down to is that I've spent lots of time with computers since 1984. I know a lot but there's still plenty I don't know. I read forums like this one, not only to offer help to others, but also to increase my knowledge. Take your time, read as much as you can, do as much as you can to maintain & fix your computer, learn at your own pace and someday down the road you'll be one of the answer guys.

learn hardwareWhere can i learn about hardware, and the terms and all. could someone give me a laydown even.

Hardware & Devices

Learn C++Hi All,
I'm a new user here. Don know where to post this. Thought this would be the best place to post this.
I want to learn c++ but not sure where to begin. can someone pls share some thoughts on this? i have a lot of free time on office so i thought of learning c++.
thanks
~Garry

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